SCALISE: Sharing Health Care Stories

Writing exclusively for LaPolitics, Congressman Steve Scalise argues that his background as a computer programmer tells him there are more than glitches going on with the health care exchange.

American families are struggling under the weight of President Obama’s health care law, and you don't have to look very far to see the real-world impact of Obamacare. I recently asked my constituents to share their Obamacare experiences with me, and here are a few examples of what I am hearing:

“It has hurt us by raising our premiums $200 a month,” says Geneva from Montegut.

“My health insurance will go up $40 a week,” reports Dennis from Slidell.

Luke from Covington writes that “My premium has increased 10% and my deductible has nearly doubled.”

After more than three years to prepare and $500+ million spent building the web site, the Obamacare rollout has been called everything from an utter failure to a national embarrassment.

During a speech earlier this week designed to sell the health care law, President Obama pledged that the nation's "best and brightest" are hard at work fixing the problems. Unfortunately he has failed to hold anyone accountable or explain how these problems were not addressed prior to Oct. 1. He also did nothing to stop penalties that loom on the horizon for every American who fails to obtain health care coverage as mandated by the new law.

In the private sector, a failed product of this magnitude would lead to firings and likely bankruptcy. In the federal government, President Obama calls this national embarrassment a "glitch" and promises to throw even more taxpayer money into this lemon of a product. Families are tired of all the broken promises as they lose good health plans that they liked, and see skyrocketing premiums under the weight of Obamacare's unworkable mandates and taxes.

Each day, the economic fallout from President Obama’s health care law gets worse, as even union bosses like James Hoffa are now complaining that the ACA is destroying the 40-hour work week, and the Senate author of ACA has called it a ‘train-wreck.' Businesses of every size are cutting employee hours and dropping coverage for families as uncertainty in our health care system increases. Unworkable mandates and taxes are the wrong answer to solving the health care crisis that looms over our nation.

The centuries-old oath taken by health care professionals reads, “Do no harm” and it is time for Washington lawmakers to take a similar approach when working to fix the problems that exist in our health care system. There is a better way to reform the American health care system.

An honest review of the history of health care in our nation shows that the system was in need of reform prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Unfortunately, the president’s government-run, mandate and tax approach to health care has failed to uphold its promise, and has actually made things worse. Simply repealing the president’s health care law is not enough.

I am proud to join the fight for a better way towards American health care reform by introducing the American Health Care Reform Act. This patient-centered reform bill recognizes that competition is the best way to lower costs and restore the doctor-patient relationship. It is a common-sense, practical, and portable free-market alternative to the current health care system without the unworkable taxes and mandates forced on American families through the president’s health care law. The bill allows individuals to buy health insurance across state lines, gives small businesses the ability to pool together and have the same buying power as large corporations, and expands access to Health Savings Accounts.

As a former computer programmer, I know President Obama’s health care website is not a glitch. It is an unworkable $500+ million national embarrassment that illustrates exactly what happens when federal bureaucrats come in between doctors and patients with government-run health care. American families deserve better. Let your voice be heard and share your story about President Obama’s health care law with me by clicking here.

Congressman Steve Scalise represents Louisiana’s First Congressional District. He is the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative lawmakers in the U.S. House.